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Systems science and complexity: some proposals for future development
Author(s) -
Leleur Steen
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.860
Subject(s) - epistemology , complement (music) , systems science , orientation (vector space) , complexity science , interpretation (philosophy) , sociology , systems thinking , systems theory , management science , postmodernism , focus (optics) , presentation (obstetrics) , computer science , engineering ethics , social science , artificial intelligence , philosophy , mathematics , chemistry , optics , engineering , biochemistry , geometry , radiology , programming language , medicine , physics , complementation , economics , gene , phenotype
In this paper some new, conceptual ideas referred to as a complexity orientation are presented on the basis of systemic planning (SP), which has been developed as a proactive, multi‐methodology approach for complex planning tasks. Specifically, the complexity orientation is compared to other systems science research orientations represented by the following labels: functionalist, interpretive, emancipatory and postmodern. After presentation and discussion of the research orientation framework, SP is compared to other current systems and management practice. Finally, the potential of a complexity orientation is treated more generally and also with a focus on its epistemological interpretation, which is carried out with a special emphasis on the work of Luhmann. General findings of the paper are that a complexity orientation ought to complement the other four research orientations to serve as a methodological platform for management practice and that Luhmann's theories ought to be addressed by the systems community as a potential for informing further development of systems science and thinking. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.